Foster Care Volunteer
Are you interested in helping the Cleveland APL from the comfort of your own home? Do you love animals but would rather have cuteness without long-term commitment? Consider becoming a Foster Care Volunteer.
Our Foster Care Volunteers provide temporary, in-home care for animals until they are ready for adoption. By temporarily opening your home to foster a pet, you give them a break from the shelter, help preserve extremely strained shelter resources, and create space for other animals in need. You can foster for a few days or a few weeks – it all makes an incredible difference!
You may choose which type of foster assignments to care for based on your interests, experience and home environment. We provide training, supplies, and support for each type of assignment, you provide a loving home!
In 2024, we saved the lives of 3,179 animals by 632 Foster Care Volunteers contributing over 117, 327 hours of service. We continue to need volunteers who can participate in this rewarding, worthwhile endeavor.
Animals in need of foster care include:
- Animals too young to be adopted
- Mothers with their nursing offspring
- Animals being treated for an illness
- Animals recovering from an injury
How do you become a Cleveland APL foster parent?
1. Complete a Foster Home Application. Click here to sign up!
2. Complete your virtual orientation and survey.
3. Take home your first foster animal!
The Cleveland APL’s Foster Program has helped thousands of animals get a second chance at life and we couldn’t do it without the care and dedication of our foster care volunteers. Check out a testimonial from one of our incredible Foster Care families!
Questions? Please contact us 216-377-1635 or by e-mail at foster@clevelandapl.org
Crisis Safety Net Foster Care Volunteer
What is the Crisis Safety Net program?
What is the Crisis Safety Net program?
The Cleveland APL Crisis Safety Net Program was developed to provide a temporary haven for pet owners in need of crisis foster care in Cuyahoga County for up to 90 days. We collaborate with owners facing hardships that leave them unable to care for their pets, such as domestic violence, homelessness, or hospitalization. Our program gives pet owners an opportunity to access services without having to surrender their animal, keeping the family together. Owners hoping to utilize this program must be working with a case manager to help guide them through their crisis. Crisis Safety Net Foster Care Volunteers must be able to care for another’s pet well and return the animal to the APL upon demand.
How do you become a Crisis Safety Net foster parent?
- Complete a Crisis Safety Net Foster Application.
- View the Crisis Safety Net Foster Orientation.
Questions? Please contact us at 216-658-6360 or by email at safetynet@clevelandapl.org.
